Mini Beachcomber concept coming in 2011

4 January 2010No Comment

January’s Detroit auto show is to feature the world premiere of Mini’s open-air Beachcomber concept, which borrows from the goofy little 1960s Mini Moke but is based on the brand’s upcoming small crossover SUV.

The Beachcomber uses the SUV’s all-wheel drive system but deletes its doors and roof. A folding fabric roof can be rolled into place to protect the Beachcomber’s four occupants from tropical showers. The concept will also have plastic panels that can be attached where the roof and doors go.

Mini built about 14,500 Mokes in Britain from 1964 to 1968, and a small number in Australia and Portugal. While production Mokes lacked the Beachcomber’s all-wheel drive layout, Mini built an AWD Moke prototype that had two engines — one for the front wheels and one for the rear. It was called the Twini.

Mini hasn’t committed to producing the Beachcomber. The SUV it’s based on is to be called the Countryman and should reach the United States in 2011.